Regulatory Compliance - The European Commission preliminarily found that companies are not complying with Digital Services Act (DSA) rules [1] - The DSA mandates companies to give researchers adequate access to public data [1]

Core Findings - An investigation by EU regulators has found TikTok and Meta in breach of the Union's rules regarding illegal or harmful online content, specifically the Digital Services Act (DSA) [1][4] - The European Commission (EC) highlighted that both companies' procedures for researchers to access public data are "burdensome," leading to partial or unreliable data that affects research on user exposure to harmful content [2] Company-Specific Issues - Meta's platforms, Instagram and Facebook, are accused of failing to provide EU residents with straightforward methods to report illegal content, imposing unnecessary steps and utilizing "dark patterns" that manipulate user actions [2][3] - The EC stated that Meta's mechanisms for flagging and removing illegal content may be ineffective due to their confusing nature [3] Regulatory Context - The investigation into TikTok focuses on advertising transparency, data access for researchers, content moderation, and protection of minors, while the inquiry into Meta was prompted by concerns over election integrity [4] - The DSA imposes additional requirements on large platforms like TikTok and Meta, including algorithmic transparency and systemic risk management, with penalties for confirmed breaches reaching up to 6% of global annual revenue [7] Next Steps - Both Meta and TikTok will have the opportunity to review the investigation documents, challenge the findings, and commit to addressing the issues identified by the EC [8]

Core Points - The European Commission has accused Meta's Facebook and Instagram, as well as TikTok, of breaching the Digital Services Act (DSA), which could lead to significant fines for these companies [3][4][5] - This marks the first time Meta has been formally accused of violating the DSA, which the company has denied [4][9] - The EU's preliminary findings indicate that both Meta and TikTok have not provided adequate access to public data for researchers, which is essential for understanding the exposure of children to harmful content [5][6] Regulatory Compliance - EU regulators emphasize that the DSA is not only about transparency but also about enabling researchers to conduct vital work regarding content exposure [6] - TikTok has expressed its commitment to transparency but highlighted potential conflicts between DSA requirements and GDPR data protection rules [6][7] - The EU has pointed out that Meta's platforms lack user-friendly mechanisms for reporting illegal content and challenging moderation decisions, which could be considered deceptive practices [8][9] Potential Consequences - If Meta and TikTok fail to address the EU's concerns satisfactorily, they may face fines for each breach on each platform [10] - The EU's digital spokesman has defended the DSA against accusations of censorship, asserting that it protects free speech by allowing citizens to contest unilateral content moderation decisions [10][11] - Both companies are currently under investigation for various issues, including their effectiveness in combating the addictive nature of their platforms for children [11]

Group 1 - The European Commission has preliminarily found TikTok and Meta in breach of transparency rules under the Digital Services Act (DSA) [1] - Both companies failed to provide researchers adequate access to public data as required by the DSA [1] - Meta was also found in breach of obligations related to providing users with simple mechanisms to report illegal content and challenge content moderation decisions on Instagram and Facebook [1]

Core Points - The European Commission has found that Meta's platforms, Instagram and Facebook, have violated EU law by not providing users with straightforward ways to report illegal content, including child sexual abuse material and terrorist content [1][2][3] - The commission's preliminary findings indicate that Meta employs "dark patterns" in its reporting mechanisms, making it confusing and discouraging for users to report illegal content [2][4] - Meta has denied any breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA) and claims to have implemented changes to improve content reporting and appeals processes [12] User Reporting Mechanisms - The commission criticized Meta for lacking a user-friendly 'notice and action' mechanism for reporting illegal content [3] - Current complaint mechanisms are deemed too complex, leading to user disincentives and ineffectiveness in reporting [4][7] - Simplifying the feedback system could also help combat misinformation, such as fake news related to political events [8] Researcher Access to Data - The commission has preliminarily found that both TikTok and Meta are not providing adequate access to public data for researchers, which is essential for assessing minors' exposure to harmful content [9][10] - Access to data is considered a transparency obligation under the DSA, allowing for public scrutiny of the platforms' impact on health [10] Compliance and Penalties - Meta and other platforms have been given time to comply with the commission's demands, with potential fines of up to 6% of total worldwide annual turnover for non-compliance [11] - The commission emphasizes that platforms must empower users and respect their rights as part of their obligations under the DSA [11][12]

RT Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger)Finally! Google admits 1) that the Biden White House demanded censorship of legal content, and 2) that the European censorship law (DSA) could require it and other tech companies "to remove lawful content" both "within and outside of" the EU. The US must stand up to EU censors! ...

RT Free Speech Ireland (@FreeSpeechIre)🚨 BREAKING: Trump Admin Labels Dublin an EU Censorship Hub@FreeSpeechIre responds to today’s @JudiciaryGOP report, led by @Jim_Jordan, blasting the Digital Services Act as a threat to free speech.The landmark report singles out the (DSA)—enforced through Ireland’s digital regulator @CNaM_ie—as a tool of censorship, foreign interference, and risk to the American First Amendment.The report cites the NGO sector around the DSA both as intentionally politicised and hostile ...